The Empire and the Wolf King (Kaitlyn and the Highlander #21)

45. Chapter 45 - Magnus

CHAPTER 45 - MAGNUS

OAKHURST INN, CHARLOTTESVILLE - 1775

I woke tae a sound Kaitlyn was making. I turned, still dazed from sleep, then woke up enough tae realize she was softly weeping.

I whispered, “Mo reul-iuil, are ye well?”

She sniffled. “It hurts.”

My heart dropped. I flicked on the flashlight and I said it again, “How long has it been hurting, mo reul-iuil?”

“I think for a while, I woke up crying and it’s… owie.”

I climbed from the bed and pulled the covers off her legs tae see. “Och nae, tis bleeding through.”

Battle rage coursed through m’body, the way it did when I wanted tae kill m’enemy, but as twas directed at a dead man and he wasna even here, I had tae take deep breaths and steady my hands and focus m’thoughts. I dragged the first-aid kit over and put the flashlight in my mouth, pointed down, and rifled through the kit, lookin’ for something tae help Kaitlyn, though in m’turmoil I forgot what I was lookin’ for.

She was quiet for a moment, then said, “I need pain relief.”

I said, “Aye,” and went through the kit again, but twas hard tae think. “What dost it look like again, mo reul-iuil?”

“One of the little blue packets with the pills.”

I found it, ripped it open quickly, and poured them intae my hand. I deposited the pills in hers. Then I hopped up for our water pitcher, only a quarter full, the staff had been busy with the murders and hadna refilled it. I poured water intae a pewter mug and brought it tae the bed. Kaitlyn reached out weakly, but I held it steady and helped her drink.

She gave me a sad smile. “That will be better, thank you.” She fluffed the pillow and lay back down.

I was looking at the bandage. “I ought tae change it but I daena hae clean water left. Dost ye want me tae carry ye back tae the physician’s office? Och nae, we shouldna hae left.” I knocked the edge of the first-aid kit.

“Are you okay?’

“Nae.” I knelt beside the bed with my forearms on the mattress beside her. “We daena hae enough supplies, mo reul-iuil. Not enough.”

She asked, “What time is it?”

I said, “Not yet dawn.”

“We’re still here?”

“Aye, I dinna think we would be… I dinna think we would wake up here.”

She pushed some of my hair back from my warm brow.

I asked, “What if this is it, we are here, running through the battery on our flashlight and we daena hae enough supplies tae make ye well, mo reul-iuil... there is nae water in the pitcher, och nae, what if we daena survive it?”

“Oh, my love, that is a lot to think about a couple hours before dawn.”

“Aye, I canna bear watchin’ ye in pain, there is blood everywhere. Let me take ye tae the physician’s office.” It was very dark in the room, the wee pool of light makin’ it seem darker by contrast.

“No, I just want to sleep.” She looked down on the bandage. “Ohhh, yeah, that is a lot… but, that’s kinda a normal amount, I think, it’s not everywhere, it’s… we can put a new bandage over the?—”

“Nae, Kaitlyn, I will go get the physician… but I canna leave ye, I daena want tae leave ye.”

She gripped my hand. “My love, go out and ask one of the staff to fetch some water and ask them to send a message for the physician to come. I will be right here, you’ll only be gone for a few moments.”

I steadied myself with my head down for three breaths then said, “Ye will be right here?”

She nodded. “Where would I go?”

“I daena want tae say it.”

She brushed her fingertips along my cheek. “I will be right here, I promise.”

I got up and left the room.

I found a servant downstairs working by candlelight in the kitchen and asked for water to be brought, for more firewood, and for someone tae be sent for the physician.

Then I ascended the stairs slowly, tryin’ tae be reasonable, but my senses were heightened, my hair on end — what if she werna there?

But when I entered the room, she said, “I’m glad you came back when you did, I was falling asleep.”

“Och, I had a feeling of dread in my heart.” I came tae the bed and knelt beside it again.

“You’re tired, you can come to bed.”

“I need tae wait up, the firewood is coming and some water, someone is goin’ for the physician. I need tae be up tae speak tae them, but ye may sleep, mo reul-iuil, I will stay up.”

“You wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway, this is your time to be up on the walls, guarding.”

I nodded.

She yawned.

“If we are here much longer, I will change yer bandage, I just… it has frightened me tonight tae see it.”

“I understand.” She nestled intae the covers, facing me. I wrapped my hands around hers.

“Will it bother ye if I pray?”

In answer she drew my hand close and kissed the finger and kept it against her cheek. I lowered my head and quietly prayed.

The water had been delivered and the fire was roaring in the hearth, not for the heat but for the comfort of it.

And the physician had come. I had passed him a cleaning wipe, an ointment, and new bandages from the kit.

Then I walked with him tae the door of our room, while Kaitlyn dozed.

He clapped his hand on my shoulder. “I will return in a few hours to check on the bandages, Your Grace.”

“Will she be well?”

“Her Grace has lost a great deal of blood, but time will cure all wounds. I will return in a few hours to check in.”

He left our room and I closed the door behind him.

I returned tae the bed and climbed in behind her, under the covers, and wrapped my arms around her. She was already asleep again.

I kissed her behind her ear and whispered, “Time heals all wounds.” I watched the flames licking the inside of the hearth as I slowly fell asleep.